Spray gun for molten metal



Dec. 25, 1951 F. J. SMITH 2,579,707

SPRAY GUN FOR MOLTEN METAL Filed Dec. 19, 1946 2 SHEETS-SHEET l HTTaEA EKS.

F. J. SMITH SPRAY GUN FOR MOLTEN METAL Dec. 25, 1951 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2 Filed Dec; 19, 1946 :il'i i a z r .11 snu g ill/4 7 v. Z A H H n v Q0 8/ M 5 2 6 mw a 9 fl 5 m W M /A l/fA/TO e FRED J SMITH,

4 mm 2 a 5 2 m 5 mm /w fiWJ fl w a m fw w 1% W Patented Dec. 25, 1951 SPRAY GUN FOR MOLTEN lVIETAL Fred J. Smith, Collinsville, Ill., assignor of twenty-five per cent to Mary M. Long, Collinsville, Ill.

Application December 19, 1946, Serial No. 717,216

(Cl. ill-12.2)

3 Claims.

The present invention relates generally to spraying devices, and more particularly to a spray gun constructed to spray molten metal such as lead or solder by compressed air.

This application is a continuation in part of my application for patent, Serial No. 555,333, filed September 22, 1944, for Spray Guns for Molten Metal, now abandoned.

An object of the present invention is to provide a novel spray gun for spraying molten metal by compressed air or the like which is adapted to efiiciently and accurately deposit sprayed molten metal upon a receiving surface.

Another object is to provide a novel spray gun for spraying molten metals which is constructed to confine the spray to efiicient working limits, thereby reducing to a minimum the diffusing of the spray with its consequent loss of material and deposit of such lost material on surfaces not desired. to be sprayed.

Another object is to provide a novel spray gun for spraying molten metals which is formed for manual handling and which is of a form and weight. facilitating handling by a sprayer over relatively long periods of time.

Another object is to provide a novel spray gun for spraying molten metals incorporating a spray nozzle assembly formed and disposed to channel the sprayed metal into a stream of predetermined cross section to effect efficient controlled spraying.

Another object is to provide a novel spray gun for spraying molten metals in which the molten metal discharge passage is maintained free from clogging.

Other objects are to provide a novel spray gun for spraying molten metals in which the compressed air is preheated, which is sturdy in construction, which includes an air cooled handle,

which is inexpensive to fabricate, which is eflifor spraying molten metals constructed in accordance with the teachings of the present invention; I r

- Fig. 2 is a top plan view thereof;

' ,Ffig. 3. is a front elevational view thereof;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged front elevatlonal view of the compressed air nozzle;

Fig. 5 is a vertical central longitudinal crosssectional view through the spray gun;

Fig. 6 is a transverse vertical cross-sectional view on the line 6-6 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 7 is an enlarged horizontal cross-sectional View through the compressed air nozzle;

Fig. 8 is an enlarged vertical central longitudinal view through the spray nozzle assembly; and

Fig. 9 is a top plan view of a portion of the gun with the cover removed.

Referring to the drawings more particularly by reference numerals, It) indicates generally a spray gun for spraying molten metal formed in accordance with the concepts of the present invention. The spray gun It is preferably formed to include a forward casting I l and a rear casting l 2, the former including a threaded reduced portion l3 which is threadedly received by a threaded well [4 in the front end of the latter, as is clear from Fig. 5.

The rear casting 12 includes a handle it having finger grip depressions 11 formed along the forward edge thereof. The handle 16 receives a nipple 18 in the butt face thereof to which is secured a compressed air hose [9 by a suitable connector nut 20. Extending through the handle Hi from the nipple I8 is a passage 22 which communicates with a chamber 23 disposed in the handle I6 near the top thereof and located crosswise to the passage 22. At the inner end of the chamber 23 is a valve seat 24 against which normally seats a valve 25 biased into seating position by a compression spring 26 disposed in the chamber 23, the other end of the spring 26 bearing against a chamber closure plug 27. Leading from the inner end of the chamber 23 at the valve seat 24 is a passage 30 which communicates with a passage 3! extending longitudinally of the handle from the top surface thereof, the passage 3| being closed at its upper end by a closure plug A passage 33 extends inwardly from the forward face of the handle it coaxially with the passage 30 and communicates with the passage 3i. A valve stem 34 connected to the valve head 25 is disposed in the passage 32% and extends outwardly from the handle [6 for a purpose described below. A suitable sealing plug 35 is provided at the outer end of the passage 33 to permit reciprocative movement of the valve stem 3% without loss of compressed air or the like.

The casting 12 also includes a forward portion 38 integral with the handle I6 which is of substantially rectangular cross section, as is clear from Figs. 5 and 6. A passage 39 extends the length thereof and communicates with the passage 3|. An operating trigger member 40 of bifurcated form straddles the forward portion 38 of the casting I2 near the handle I6 and includes spaced legs 4| and 42 pivotally mounted on a bolt 43 or the like extending transversely through the forward portion 38, and a finger portion 44. As is clear from the drawings, the back of the finger portion 44 is disposed adjacent the free end of the valve stem 34 for contact therewith. A roller 46 is supported between the upper ends of the legs 4| and 42 by a bolt 41 or the like.

The front end of the forward portion 38 incative support in the aperture 5|, the push rod 52 having adjustably threaded to its rear end a knob 53 of the form shown, which includes a flanged enlargement 54; The face of the knob 53 is disposed adjacent the roller 46 for engagement thereby. A compression spring 55 is disposed about the push rod 52 between the flange 50 and the knob 53.

A gas fitting 60 is secured to the underside of the forward portion 38 of the casting I2 by suitable screws 6| extending through flanges 62 of the fitting 60 into the portion 38. The fitting 60 has a central passage 63, into the free end of which is secured a nipple 64 to which is connected a gas line 65 by a connector nut 66. Leading from the passage 63 near its upper end is a transversepassage 68 which threadedly receives a heating torch nozzle 69 having air openings I0. The fitting 60 includes an outwardly extending portion I3 having a passage I4 therein communicating with the passage 83. Within the passage 14 is a valve stem I5 secured to a valve head I6 disposed in the passage 63. A knurled knob I? has a shaft I8 telescopically threadedly connected with the valve stem '75 for moving the valve head I6 from its position shown in Fig. 6 to the right to permit gas to pass through the passage 63 and return, the shaft I8 being nonaxially movable in respect to a provided housing I9.

The casting II includes a reservoir or container 80 for metal which is disposed at the forward end of the spray gun I0. In the bottom of the container 80 is an outlet fitting or discharge nozzle BI, preferably of the form shown, which includes a passage 82. A needle valve 84 extends into the fitting 8| to a point flush'with the exit end thereof. The fitting 8| and the needle valve 84 are disposed at an acute angle to the vertical, as is clearly shown in Figs. 5 and 8. One arm of a bell crank lever 86 is pivotally connected. to the upper end of the needle valve 84 at 81, the bell crank lever 88 being pivotally supported on a suitable screw 88 or the like having bearing support in spaced upwardly extending wall portions 89 of the forward casting II (Figs. 5 and 9). Spacers 90 surround the screw 88 between the bell crank lever 86 and the wall portions 89. The other arm of the bell crank lever 86 is pivotally connected at 9| to the forward end of the push rod 52. The needle valve 84 extends to a point flush with the exit end of the fitting 8| to provide a cleaning function therefor, both through full occupancy of the passage 82 of the fitting 8| thereby when not in use and by a reciprocative cleaning action thereof.

A nozzle 95 of the configuration clearly shown in Figs. 4, 5, 7 and 3 is threadedly secured into a depending portion 96 of the forward casting II. The nozzle 95 includes a central passage 98 which fans out at the outlet end to provide a U-shaped channel 99. The free end I00 of the nozzle 95 is also U-shaped and receives between the legs'thereof the free end of the fitting 8|, the nozzle 95 and the fitting 8| being disposed at an acute angle to each other. The walls of the U-shaped free end I00 are concave in vertical cross section. A passage I0| is formed in the forward casting II at the rear of the reservoir 80, communicating at its forward end with the nozzle 95 and at its rear end with the passage 39. The depending portion 96 of the forward casting II includes forwardly extending wall sections I02 which serve as side baflies for the nozzle 95 and the fitting 8|.

A cover I05 is provided which is secured to the connected castings II and I2 by suitable screws I66. An opening I0! is provided to receive the upper end of the needle valve 84 and an opening I09 is provided through which the push rod 52 extends. Air holes I09 are also provided in the cover I05. A hook H0 is secured to the cover I05 by welding or the like and serves as a means for hanging the gun I0 upon a hook or the like while not in use.

Operation In the use of the present novel spray 'gun I0,

which is manually portable and manually operable, the fitting is connected with a gas line and the passage 22 with a compressed air hose I9 in the usual manner. Solder or lead, usually in solid form, is placed in the reservoir 80, the needle valve 84 being closed. The torch nozzle 69 is ignited, gas being supplied thereto in sufficient quantity by manipulation of the knob 11. The solder or lead in the reservoir is melted through the application of sufiicient heat from the torch 69; whereupon, the spray gun I0 isready for application of a coating of metal to a desired surface such as a car fender or the like.

The finger portion 44 of the finger member 40 is pulled rearwardly towards the handle I6 by the finger of a hand grasping the handle I6.

The valve head 25 is thereby unseated and the needle valve 84 is raised a predetermined amount; whereupon, compressed air is emitted from the nozzle 95, drawing molten metal from the reservoir 80 through the fitting 8| by suction assisted by gravity. A metal spray is efiected thereby, the compressed air serving as an efficient carrier, the spra depositing as a metal coating on the object being sprayed.

The shape of the nozzle and the angle 'of disposition thereof to' the fitting 8| effects a restricted spray stream resulting in an efficient controlled metal deposit. The walls of the free end of the nozzle 95 and the channel 99 channel the compressed air carrier, thereby reducing the diverging tendency of the spray. Further, the

angle of impact of the compressed air with the molten metal drawn from the reservoir 80, as

' employed in the present construction, reduces to may be varied through manipulation of the knob 93 which is threaded onto the rear end of the push rod 52. If desired, the free end of the valve stem 34 may be made adjustable.

The air passing through the handle [6 keeps the same cool, and offsets any heating up of the same by heat conduction from the hot forward part of the gun.

Molten solder powders somewhat on cooling which would gradually clog the passage 82 of the fitting 9! were the Valve 84 not provided of full length and form as disclosed. Also, solder, lead and other metals would on cooling gradually decrease the cross section of the passage 82 of the fitting 8i. Neither objectionable condition obtains in the present gun, for the valve 84, as formed, may be reciprocated to clear any powdered or molten material from the passage 82, and, since the valve 84 occupies the passage 82 when the gun It. is not in use, material cannot accumulate therein.

It is apparent that there has been provided a novel spray gun which fulfills all the objects and advantages sought therefor.

It is to be understood that the foregoing description and the accompanying drawings have been given by way of illustration and example. It is also to be understood that changes in form of the several parts, substitution of equivalent elements and rearrangement of parts, which will be readily apparent to one skilled in the art, are contemplated a within the scope of the present invention, which is limited only by the claims which follow.

What is claimed is:

1. In a spray gun, a reservoir, and means for withdrawing a fluid from said reservoir as a spray,

including a fluid discharge nozzle and a carrier nozzle having horizontal and vertical grooves formed in the free end thereof, the end of the carrier nozzle being disposed so as to straddle the tip of the fluid discharge nozzle.

2. In a spray gun, a reservoir; and means for withdrawing a fluid from said reservoir as a spray including a fluid discharge nozzle and a bifurcated carrier nozzle, said carrier nozzle having horizontal and vertical grooves formed in the free end thereof and an outlet opening at the intersection of the grooves.

3. In a spray gun, a reservoir; and means for withdrawing a fluid from said reservoir as a spray including a fluid discharge nozzle and a bifurcated carrier nozzle, said carrier nozzle having horizontal and vertical grooves formed in the free end thereof and an outlet opening at the intersection of the grooves, one of said grooves being at least twice as wide as the other.

FRED J. SMITH.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 945,338 Mikorey Jan. 4, 1910 999,330 Mikorey Aug. 1, 1911 1,880,331 Rapp Oct. 4,. 1932 1,911,366 Kitto et al. May 30, 1933 2,058,653 Albertson Oct. 27, 1936 2,143,232 Taylor Jan. 10, 1939 2,252,942 Mourer Aug. 19, 1941 2,287,770 Albertson June 30, 1942 

